Posted on 10/31/2020 

LUANN AND CHARLES ARE BACK IN MAUI!

Travel with LuAnn and Charles (a.k.a. TLC) in this multi-blog series. In Part Two of this series, LuAnn & Charles provide details of the current status of their resort (with photos!).

We knew before we booked our flights to Maui that everything would not be the same as in our previous visits to the island or villa. We were ready to embrace whatever we encountered.

Most of the hotels are not yet open throughout the island. The beautiful golf courses of Wailea and Kaanapali are welcoming guests, however, the hotels remain closed. I am told some of the hotels will begin to reopen as soon as November 1 and the others will open when tourism increases. Hopefully, by the end of the year. Over the past week, excursions are slowly becoming available. However, most of the boat excursions are still private charter only.

When we arrived at the Westin Kaanapali Ocean Resort Villas North, on 10/17, the occupancy was about 20%. Within a week, the occupancy increased to 30%. This property has remained open throughout the pandemic. At one point, only 1 of the 258 units was occupied. Like many of the properties on this part of the island, this resort typically has a year round occupancy rate of about 98%. Unemployment is typically under 2% in West Maui. Tourism is definitely the pulse of this island. The unemployment rate soared to over 50%.

As we drove to the resort, everything looked normal.

The lobby with the beautiful views of the resort interior and the concierge ready to assist us locate local restaurants and stores that were open, were all welcoming to us.

Masks in all public areas of the resort are required and only 1 person or family per elevator, is enforced. Staff are not allowed in the villas. Luggage is delivered to the outside of the door. We can request towels and other supplies and they are delivered to our door. When someone checks out, they wait 24 hours before entering the villa to clean for the next guest. Since we are staying over 14 days, we did have a cleaning on day 8.

All the hotel restaurants are closed. The fitness center and spa are closed. The resort market is closed. Valet parking is not available. However, the bell boys at the front are ready, willing and able to assist with delivery of luggage and groceries (yes, we went to Costco). In my conversation with Bradda, he told me that he and most of the staff, had just returned to work, after over 7 months of no work. He said his days were filled with fishing and the beach. He and the other staff are grateful to be back at work.

The pools and beaches are open. The pool kiosk is open for equipment rental, sun screen and towel service. Food and beverage service is not available. They are enforcing the wearing of a mask while lounging by the pool. No mask is required while in the pool, however, in the socially distanced chairs around the pool, masks are required. Mask use is monitored and (nicely) enforced throughout the property.

This is a family friendly resort. The kid’s pool is open, however, the kids club is also closed. The last posted schedule of events on the kids club door is from March 2020. Very sad….

We knew If our Covid results weren’t back before we arrived, we would be put in quarantine. For that reason we were deliberate in choosing a villa with a full kitchen, laundry and also, very important to us, a room with a view of the ocean.

Our oceanfront villa has a view of the ocean and also of the pools within our U-shaped complex. I enjoy opening the shutters between the bedroom and bathroom, so we have unobstructed views from every part of the villa.

I also love the beautiful view from my lanai “office”.

STAY TUNED FOR MORE DETAILS AS WE EXPERIENCE MORE OF MAUI! (HINT: PART THREE IS ALL ABOUT FOOD)